UF football picks up 2014 commitment

Published: Tuesday, January 8, 2013 at 2:01 p.m.

Last Modified: Tuesday, January 8, 2013 at 2:01 p.m.

Florida landed another verbal commitment Tuesday, this time for the 2014 class.

Cross City Dixie County cornerback Duke Dawson picked the Gators over Florida State during a ceremony in his school auditorium. The decision was one Dawson made months ago.

“I've wanted to go to Florida since day one when I went to their summer camp,” Dawson said. “They were the first school to offer me and showed me more love than any other coaching staff during my recruiting process.”

Another selling point for Dawson was the success of Florida's 2012 football season.

“I just want to play for a good team,” he said. “I've never had the opportunity to go to a championship in high school. I feel like I'm going to have that opportunity once I go there because they're winning games in the best conference in the nation.”

Dawson is regarded as one of the best 2014 cornerbacks in the state and was a top performer in the Under Armour Underclassmen Combine last Friday.

He is the fourth member of Florida's 2014 class, joining Fort Myers Dunbar receiver Ryeshene Bronson, Davidson (N.C.) Day quarterback Will Grier and Palm Bayside defensive tackle Travonte Valentine. Rivals.com has all of them rated as four-star recruits and in the Rivals250 Watch List.

Verbal commitments are not binding until prospects their sign national letters of intent.

<p>Florida landed another verbal commitment Tuesday, this time for the 2014 class.</p><p>Cross City Dixie County cornerback <a href="http://recruits.gatorsports.com/player/363/duke-dawson/">Duke Dawson</a> picked the Gators over Florida State during a ceremony in his school auditorium. The decision was one Dawson made months ago. </p><p>“I've wanted to go to Florida since day one when I went to their summer camp,” Dawson said. “They were the first school to offer me and showed me more love than any other coaching staff during my recruiting process.”</p><p>Another selling point for Dawson was the success of Florida's 2012 football season.</p><p>“I just want to play for a good team,” he said. “I've never had the opportunity to go to a championship in high school. I feel like I'm going to have that opportunity once I go there because they're winning games in the best conference in the nation.”</p><p>Dawson is regarded as one of the best 2014 cornerbacks in the state and was a top performer in the Under Armour Underclassmen Combine last Friday. </p><p>He is the fourth member of Florida's 2014 class, joining Fort Myers Dunbar receiver Ryeshene Bronson, Davidson (N.C.) Day quarterback Will Grier and Palm Bayside defensive tackle Travonte Valentine. Rivals.com has all of them rated as four-star recruits and in the Rivals250 Watch List.</p><p>Verbal commitments are not binding until prospects their sign national letters of intent.</p>